Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-12-22
Oh RIST MAS.
mo young and old,
- Rich or poor,
King or peasant,
i There never was
A Christmas like
IN rN.s..., -.

Although tnls may De true, Iou
the present we are glad to look back
through dusty archives, whose pages
send forth the unmistakable odor Of
hoary knowledge. recognized by all ;
and turning over the large yellow
leaves in an ancient catalogue OF
Church Festivals for 354 A. D., to
read, in quaint and curious script, the
first mention Of December 25th as
Christmas day.
All the world seemed waiting for
this appointed time in which to cele-
brate the birth-hour Of the human
and divine Christ-child. In a brief
six years we read Of multitudes
thronging the churches Of Rome to
witness its ceremonies. Fourteen
years more passed, and then Antioch
Joined in the holy revels, while but
fifty years suihced to unite all Christ
eudom in hymns and carols Of glad
ness on this festival OF the day when
ito us Saviour was born"
Probably a desire to establish
among the children OF the Church a
Joyous season that might supersede
the forbidden rites OF the Roman Sa-
turnalia, suggested the date, since the
Feast of Saturn occurred in the lat
ter days of December. For this rea
son, also, many OF the harmless and
attractive features of the heather cb-
servance were incorporated in the
Christian rejoicings, while the grosser
portions were eliminated.
Strange, is it not, that of the most
important date in all history the only
fact that seems proved with COMPARE
tive certainty is that Christ was pro-
badly ao' born upon 1.-The day we eel
citrate -
But, nevertheless. ever since the
filth century, December 25th has been
cur Chrlst-day. And from Eoman
Saturnslia, from Druids OF Briton,
from mystical German legends and
homely English customs, We have
drawn the charms and graces and fan
tsstical devices with which We clothe
our tenderest thouS hts and hottest
reverence for the entrance Of the Sa-
viour Of the world into human life.
From Scandinavisns, who in winter
built immense fires on the hill-tops in
honlr of the suns return, We borrow
ed the yule log. And it became an
English custom 10 preserve bit Of
one years yule log to light the
Christmas, tide, in token of warmth
and plenty to abide IN the household
throughout the year. When the los
was ready to be brought in, the
youngest child of the family was seat
ed upon it, and all the rest assembled
to witness its entrance, drawn by tbs
merry retsiners, and prepare it fol
the lighting.
The passing of the "wassail cup
bowl Of spiced Ale-was something
always expected, and he was niS
gard, indeed, who would not take /.
hearty sup" from the huge commoI
vessel and leave q douceEr in the hsuC
OF the maiden who brought it, snC
often enough another sweet mement'
on her not unwilling lips.
The wassailing of the orchard tree
"a Devousbire custom,
Thst they may beare
Pull many plum
Full many pcarC,
is sometimes wrongly quoted as
Christmas observance, but it was upol
Twelfth Night"-in January-tha
the trees were made drunken will
the dreGs of good sop"
There are portions Of Germany, Ire
land. and even England, where Christ
mas eve 10 considered an uncann,
time, when superstition throbs IL